Setting – Sullivan’s Island

Poe was stationed on at Fort Moultre on Sullivan’s Island from November 1827 – February 1829, eventually achieving the rank of Sergeant Major for Artillery, the highest ranking a noncommissioned officer can receive. Poe’s time spent living on Sullivan’s is considered the direct inspiration for The Gold-Bug. The setting plays a major role in the tale, and Poe’s description of the landscape is impeccably detailed (an excerpt showcasing this can be found on the Annotated Paragraph page). In a story that centers around a treasure map, it would make sense for the author to have an expertise in the area he is allowing his characters to explore.